Alaska's bicameral legislature — 20-member Senate and 40-member House — meeting in Juneau from January to May each year. Sets the state budget, oil and gas policy, school funding, and the annual Permanent Fund Dividend calculation.
120 4th St, Juneau, AK 99801, USA
Video Clips
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Elvi Gray-Jackson
“That is simply, simply not what SB 41 would do. The bill wouldn't create a state takeover of local classrooms.”Alaska Legislature: MISC-20260619-1230
Gary Stevens
“38 Yeas, 22 nays. And so by a vote of 38 yeas and 22 nays, the joint legislative session has failed to override Senate Bill 41.”Alaska Legislature: MISC-20260619-1230
Gary Stevens
“36 Yeas, 24 nays. Thank you. The joint legislative session has failed to override the governor's veto of House Bill 52.”Alaska Legislature: MISC-20260619-1230
Elvi Gray-Jackson
“Alaska has the highest suicide rate in the nation. In many rural communities, suicide rates are nearly 4 times that average, the national average. Teaching our students how to recognize mental health challenges, seek help, and support one another is one of the most basic and meaningful steps we can take to address this crisis.”Alaska Legislature: MISC-20260619-1230
Elvi Gray-Jackson
“our children are watching. They are watching. They are hoping that we hear their voices and understand their pleas for help. They're looking to us for leadership, compassion, and action.”Alaska Legislature: MISC-20260619-1230
Gary Stevens
“by a vote of 43 yeas and 17 nays, the joint legislative session has overridden the governor's veto of CSRA House Bill 195 Finance.”Alaska Legislature: MISC-20260619-1230
Senator's Mother Scammed: Personal Loss Drives Crypto Kiosk Bill
Senator Cathy Tilton sponsored cryptocurrency kiosk consumer protection legislation after her own mother fell victim to a scam, and the bill passed both chambers unanimously.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Alaska Legislature fails to override veto of pension bill
The Alaska Legislature fell seven votes short of overriding Governor Mike Dunleavy's veto of House Bill 78, which would have restored a defined benefit pension option for public employees including teachers and state troopers.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago3 min read
House Passes Civics Education Bill After Decade-Long Push
The Alaska House voted 37-3 to require comprehensive civics education for K-12 students, mandating instruction on founding documents and government structure ahead of America's 250th anniversary.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Alaska Senate advances sweeping public safety bill with AI child abuse provisions
The Alaska State Senate unanimously approved an 80-page public safety omnibus bill that raises the age of consent to 18, criminalizes AI-generated child sexual abuse material, and expands the state parole board.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago4 min read
House Finance Committee advances PFD restoration for wrongfully convicted
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min readAlaska House Passes Baby Box Bill 35-5
The Alaska House passed SB 9, authorizing baby boxes for safe infant surrender, in a 35 to 5 vote, but the identities and reasoning of the five dissenting members remain undisclosed.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min readDunleavy vetoes public pension bill, leaving override as long shot
Governor Dunleavy vetoed legislation that would have reopened a defined benefit pension option for Alaska public employees and teachers, citing fiscal and legal concerns.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago3 min read
Alaska lawmakers review paid parental leave bill funded by payroll taxes
The Alaska Senate Finance Committee heard testimony Tuesday on a bill that would create an 8-12 week paid parental leave program funded by new payroll taxes, with benefits not available until 2030.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago3 min read
Alaska House debates youth vaping penalties amid justice concerns
Alaska House members debated a proposed $100 civil fine for minors possessing nicotine products, with opponents citing research showing youth processed through justice systems face worse outcomes and supporters arguing the penalty is needed to combat youth vaping.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
House Finance adds feral cat spay-neuter provisions to invasive species bill
The Alaska House Finance Committee voted 9-2 to amend an invasive species management bill to include provisions allowing spaying and neutering of feral and community cats without landowner permission, despite objections that the additions were unrelated to the bill's original purpose.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Senate panel advances education bill with energy relief, loan program
The Senate Finance Committee approved a comprehensive education bill Monday that provides energy cost relief to school districts and expands teacher student loan repayment programs.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago3 min read
Alaska Senate Passes Statewide Styrofoam Ban for Restaurants
The Alaska Senate voted 13-7 Monday to ban polystyrene food containers at restaurants statewide, citing health and environmental concerns, with the measure taking effect January 1, 2027.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago3 min read
Senate panel advances gas pipeline tax bill after 36 hearings
The Alaska Senate Resources Committee advanced Senate Bill 280, a gas pipeline tax structure bill, after two months of hearings despite concerns about limited project information and lack of administration support.
by Bill AlaskaNews4mo ago3 min read
House approves stricter hunting residency rules in divided vote
The Alaska House of Representatives voted 24-16 Sunday to approve new residency standards for hunting and fishing licenses, with the measure set to take effect in 2028.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min readHouse Finance advances tobacco age increase, e-cigarette tax on 7-4 vote
The Alaska House Finance Committee voted 7-4 Sunday to advance a bill raising the minimum age to purchase tobacco and nicotine products to 21 and imposing new retail taxes on e-cigarettes, after rejecting amendments to exempt active-duty military members and to use a wholesale tax structure.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago4 min readHouse panel hears bill to restore PFDs for wrongfully convicted Alaskans
The House Finance Committee heard testimony Sunday on legislation that would allow Alaskans whose convictions are overturned to reclaim Permanent Fund dividends they lost while incarcerated.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago3 min read
Senate panel reviews oil tax floor increase projecting $132M annual gain
The Alaska Senate Resources Committee heard Department of Revenue analysis showing that raising the oil production tax minimum floor from 4% to 6% would generate an average of $132 million annually in additional state revenue from fiscal years 2027 through 2036, though complex interactions with tax credits could produce a negative revenue impact in some years.
by Bill AlaskaNews4mo ago4 min read
Alaska House panel hears bill to shield ratepayers from data center costs
The House Community and Regional Affairs Committee heard testimony Monday on SB 250, which would prohibit data centers from passing infrastructure costs like transmission lines onto residential electricity ratepayers, a consumer protection measure inspired by Trump administration proposals as Alaska considers major data center development.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago3 min read
Alaska Legislature Passes Bill Requiring Itemized Student Fee Statements
The Alaska Legislature passed HB 176, requiring the University of Alaska to provide itemized student fee statements and notice of fee increases.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago3 min readAlaska News Roundup: Gas pipeline tax fight, Point Thomson trade-off, and McNeil River access debate
This episode covers the week's major Alaska stories: a gas pipeline tax bill that added oil tax increases, the Point Thomson condensate trade-off for pipeline gas, Mount Edgecumbe enrollment crisis, and McNeil River bear sanctuary access proposals.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago3 min read
Alaska House passes fisheries tax credit expansion unanimously
The Alaska House of Representatives voted 40-0 Sunday to extend and expand a tax credit program that helps seafood processors invest in new equipment and value-added products, with supporters saying it aids both large processors and small direct-marketing fishermen during poor market conditions.
by Bill AlaskaNews4mo ago3 min readSenate Passes Insurance Gap Fix for Gig Economy Drivers
The Alaska Senate voted 13-7 Sunday to amend a bill requiring insurance coverage for delivery app drivers like Instacart and Uber Eats workers, who currently have zero coverage during accidents.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago3 min read
House Finance Committee advances auto-IRA bill for Alaska workers
The House Finance Committee voted Sunday to move forward legislation creating an automatic IRA program for Alaska employees whose employers do not offer retirement plans.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago3 min read
Alaska Legislature approves $1,000 PFD, $200 energy relief payment
The Alaska Legislature conference committee approved a $1,000 Permanent Fund Dividend and increased energy relief payments from $150 to $200 per person, totaling $127.3 million, in a split vote Sunday.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago3 min read
House panel cuts youth tobacco fines, advances Tobacco 21 bill
Alaska's House Finance Committee reduced proposed fines for minors possessing tobacco from $300 to $100 and eliminated mandatory court appearances, advancing legislation to raise the tobacco purchasing age to 21 and tax vaping products.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min read
Senate Finance advances public safety bill with parole board overhaul
The Senate Finance Committee advanced a comprehensive public safety bill Saturday that restructures the parole board, creates an address confidentiality program for crime victims, and establishes a tribal liaison in corrections.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min readAlaska House Passes Paid Parental Leave, Exempts Seasonal Workers from Sick Leave
The Alaska House passed a paid parental leave program (8-12 weeks) funded through unemployment insurance contributions while simultaneously exempting seasonal workers and businesses under 10 employees from voter-approved paid sick leave requirements.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min readSenate panel weighs municipal concerns over Alaska LNG tax structure
The Senate Resources Committee Saturday reviewed Alaska Municipal League concerns about tax abatements and revenue distribution for the Alaska LNG pipeline project, with legal counsel proposing a 10-year sunset provision to address precedent worries.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min read
Senate panel advances bill requiring humans in autonomous commercial vehicles
The Alaska Senate State Affairs Committee voted Saturday to advance a bill requiring human safety operators in autonomous commercial vehicles, despite warnings from industry representatives that the measure would effectively ban driverless technology in the state.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min read
House Finance advances civics education bill after rejecting military exemption
The Alaska House Finance Committee moved a civics education bill forward Saturday after voting down an amendment that would have exempted active-duty military children from a new graduation requirement.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min read
Alaska Senate tightens hunting residency rules to match PFD standards
The Alaska Senate passed legislation Saturday requiring hunters to be physically present in Alaska for 180 days annually to qualify for resident licenses, mirroring Permanent Fund Dividend requirements.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min read
8-Year Boundary Error in Jonesville PUA Finally Corrected
An eight-year-old boundary error in legislation creating the Jonesville Public Use Area is being corrected after unanimous legislative approval, allowing DNR to finally complete regulations for the area.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min readAlaska Senate advances university regents reform bill with 2027 start date
The Alaska Senate moved forward legislation Thursday that would restructure the University of Alaska Board of Regents, pushing the effective date to February 2027 and drawing bipartisan support from at least 10 senators who signed on as cross-sponsors.
by Alaska News4mo ago1 min readHouse committee advances LGBTQ anti-discrimination bill on 4-3 vote
The Alaska House State Affairs Committee voted 4-3 Thursday to advance HB 301, which would add sexual orientation and gender identity protections to state civil rights law covering employment, housing, and public accommodations.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min readSenate panel advances bill to stabilize Alaska school funding with enrollment averaging
The Alaska Senate Education Committee advanced House Bill 261, which would allow school districts to use multi-year enrollment averages instead of annual counts for more stable funding, addressing chronic budget uncertainty that forces teacher layoffs and school closures.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min read
Senate approves mental health education bill after six-year push
The Alaska Senate voted 17-3 Friday to concur with House amendments to a bill requiring age-appropriate mental health education in schools, marking the culmination of a six-year legislative effort.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min readSenate cuts community impact fees for gas pipeline by half
The Alaska Senate Resources Committee voted to reduce community impact fees for the Alaska LNG pipeline from $1 million to $500,000 per mile, cutting projected payments to municipalities from approximately $740 million to $370 million.
by Alaska News4mo ago5 min read
Senate panel advances full funding for pre-K students statewide
The Senate Education Committee voted Saturday to expand pre-kindergarten funding by counting pre-K students as full-time rather than half-time in the state funding formula, removing previous caps and sunset clauses.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min read
Senate panel advances civil rights commission bill with new settlement tool
The Alaska Senate Finance Committee unanimously approved a bill Friday that adds a predetermination agreement procedure to the State Commission for Civil Rights, sending the measure to Senate Rules.
by Alaska News4mo ago2 min read
Alaska Senate committee hears nurse staffing bill amid safety concerns
The Senate Labor and Commerce Committee heard testimony Friday on legislation that would establish minimum nurse-to-patient ratios in Alaska hospitals, with nurses describing unsafe workloads and advocates citing Oregon's successful implementation.
by Alaska News4mo ago4 min read